Living In Slovakia: 2 Weeks (Written March 4, 2014)
Two weeks ago, I flew out of Denver International Airport and 15 hours later, I was singing with the kids that I met this last summer in Bratislava, Slovakia.
I want to start off just by thanking everyone who has helped me to get here financially and through prayer. I am so grateful for this opportunity and the experiences that will come from it. I can already tell that God is using this time to mold my heart, to teach me and bend me. I have learned and will learn so much.
Two weeks ago, I got to experience Fusion! Over the summer our Fort Collins team got to be a part of a Fusion camp but we had little to no idea of what Fusion looked like throughout the year. So it was cool to experience the weekly gathering that they have. We started with a game and group mixer, then we began vocal warm ups! From warms ups we went into choir rehearsal and then usually we would have done a short devotional,but it just so happened that the Olympic Slovak vs. Czech hockey game was that night… (Hockey is a big deal in Slovakia..) So we watched the game and opened the time for fellowship time. I got to reconnect with so many students and leaders! It was super encouraging to be welcomed by so many people. To know that there were and are so many people praying (both in Slovakia and America) for me to be here, to pour into and to be poured into, is just amazing.
The next day I joined Mark,Gavin, and Ian Chase at another, smaller Fusion in Senec. This Fusion was completely new to me; they started just this fall. They are much smaller than the Fusion in Bratislava, but I admire that they are not discouraged by their numbers. They all have such a passion for music. There are a couple students there that love Fusion but do not know the Lord. They come from fairly broken families and Fusion is a place where they can enjoy life and music. This is where I met a girl that is desperate to be loved. She has a beautiful and kind spirit, but does not know the hope that there can be in her life. Please pray for me to follow the Spirit in that relationship.
Last week we had a sleepover with just the Fusion girls inside the Fusion building. It was encouraging to see these girls connecting with each other, developing strong relationships with each other and learning how to trust God also. We talked about how to love others and our love languages, which was helpful for us leaders so we know how we can more effectively love those girls. I had a great conversation with one gal that I feel I connect with really well; she’s not a Christian and is very skeptical of any kind of religion. I can tell that God is going to work through me and is working through me in her life. Be praying for her to make the right decisions as she is bordering a dangerous lifestyle, and these next few months will determine a lot about the direction her life takes.
Last week we also did a music video in downtown Bratislava with the Fusion kids. Super fun time! There's nothing like embarrassing yourself in public! It was a great time to get to know some of the students and just laugh with them.
This week we are in full swing as workshops are starting! Workshops are an hour designated to teaching one or two students how to play a certain instrument. For me, I will be teaching acoustic guitar and bass guitar each week. I’m excited to get to know my students well. This is the time during the week that I am excited for! Being a very introverted person, it is much harder for me to make small conversations in large groups of people, so time like this, one on one or in a small group is great.
I have been able to attend church both Sundays with the Chases at their partner church, Viera. The church is a very encouraging setting and seems to be thriving. Usually churches in Slovakia tend to be very small, in fact there’s just not many Christians at all here. One thing I love about their church is their openness to sharing testimonies each week. It really stood out to me this week that that is something that is so important to a church body and to our individual walks.Hearing each other’s testimonies reminds us that we AREN’T alone in our struggles! And it reminds us that a church isn’t called to be perfect, to look perfect, or pretend that it’s perfect; the church is called to stand together,hold one another together and bring glory to God by being the creatures that He created.
God has really been laying on my heart to spend time searching after God and who “Christ in me” is. He’s been teaching me that I don’t have to pretend to be someone I’m not anymore. I don’t have to be someone that does all they can to keep people from seeing my heart. God’s taught me in the last 4 weeks that I have been hiding my true identity for way, way too long. So long that it is so hard for me to find who I actually am. I’ve been pretending for so long, that I’ve forgotten who Abby Pahlau is. Through this new sense of vulnerability and newness, I’ve been able to start to understand true grace. It’s a long process. But I am excited to keep learning more and more about this God that sees me, knows me inside and out, and loves me all the same. Wrapping my head around the fact that He knows everything I’ve said, done, and thought and that on my worst day, He still wants to give me a huge hug and let me know that HE LOVES ME.
There will be so much more to share with you all later on, I know, but for now I hope this gives you a little picture of what my time here in Slovakia is looking like! Thank you so much for your prayers. Please continue to lift up the students and future leaders here in Slovakia and for the Chases as they continue to trust God everyday and follow where He leads them here.
In Him,
Abby
I want to start off just by thanking everyone who has helped me to get here financially and through prayer. I am so grateful for this opportunity and the experiences that will come from it. I can already tell that God is using this time to mold my heart, to teach me and bend me. I have learned and will learn so much.
Two weeks ago, I got to experience Fusion! Over the summer our Fort Collins team got to be a part of a Fusion camp but we had little to no idea of what Fusion looked like throughout the year. So it was cool to experience the weekly gathering that they have. We started with a game and group mixer, then we began vocal warm ups! From warms ups we went into choir rehearsal and then usually we would have done a short devotional,but it just so happened that the Olympic Slovak vs. Czech hockey game was that night… (Hockey is a big deal in Slovakia..) So we watched the game and opened the time for fellowship time. I got to reconnect with so many students and leaders! It was super encouraging to be welcomed by so many people. To know that there were and are so many people praying (both in Slovakia and America) for me to be here, to pour into and to be poured into, is just amazing.
The next day I joined Mark,Gavin, and Ian Chase at another, smaller Fusion in Senec. This Fusion was completely new to me; they started just this fall. They are much smaller than the Fusion in Bratislava, but I admire that they are not discouraged by their numbers. They all have such a passion for music. There are a couple students there that love Fusion but do not know the Lord. They come from fairly broken families and Fusion is a place where they can enjoy life and music. This is where I met a girl that is desperate to be loved. She has a beautiful and kind spirit, but does not know the hope that there can be in her life. Please pray for me to follow the Spirit in that relationship.
Last week we had a sleepover with just the Fusion girls inside the Fusion building. It was encouraging to see these girls connecting with each other, developing strong relationships with each other and learning how to trust God also. We talked about how to love others and our love languages, which was helpful for us leaders so we know how we can more effectively love those girls. I had a great conversation with one gal that I feel I connect with really well; she’s not a Christian and is very skeptical of any kind of religion. I can tell that God is going to work through me and is working through me in her life. Be praying for her to make the right decisions as she is bordering a dangerous lifestyle, and these next few months will determine a lot about the direction her life takes.
Last week we also did a music video in downtown Bratislava with the Fusion kids. Super fun time! There's nothing like embarrassing yourself in public! It was a great time to get to know some of the students and just laugh with them.
This week we are in full swing as workshops are starting! Workshops are an hour designated to teaching one or two students how to play a certain instrument. For me, I will be teaching acoustic guitar and bass guitar each week. I’m excited to get to know my students well. This is the time during the week that I am excited for! Being a very introverted person, it is much harder for me to make small conversations in large groups of people, so time like this, one on one or in a small group is great.
I have been able to attend church both Sundays with the Chases at their partner church, Viera. The church is a very encouraging setting and seems to be thriving. Usually churches in Slovakia tend to be very small, in fact there’s just not many Christians at all here. One thing I love about their church is their openness to sharing testimonies each week. It really stood out to me this week that that is something that is so important to a church body and to our individual walks.Hearing each other’s testimonies reminds us that we AREN’T alone in our struggles! And it reminds us that a church isn’t called to be perfect, to look perfect, or pretend that it’s perfect; the church is called to stand together,hold one another together and bring glory to God by being the creatures that He created.
God has really been laying on my heart to spend time searching after God and who “Christ in me” is. He’s been teaching me that I don’t have to pretend to be someone I’m not anymore. I don’t have to be someone that does all they can to keep people from seeing my heart. God’s taught me in the last 4 weeks that I have been hiding my true identity for way, way too long. So long that it is so hard for me to find who I actually am. I’ve been pretending for so long, that I’ve forgotten who Abby Pahlau is. Through this new sense of vulnerability and newness, I’ve been able to start to understand true grace. It’s a long process. But I am excited to keep learning more and more about this God that sees me, knows me inside and out, and loves me all the same. Wrapping my head around the fact that He knows everything I’ve said, done, and thought and that on my worst day, He still wants to give me a huge hug and let me know that HE LOVES ME.
There will be so much more to share with you all later on, I know, but for now I hope this gives you a little picture of what my time here in Slovakia is looking like! Thank you so much for your prayers. Please continue to lift up the students and future leaders here in Slovakia and for the Chases as they continue to trust God everyday and follow where He leads them here.
In Him,
Abby
This is the group of girls at our sleepover. We gave each other make overs with blindfolds on... scary experience... ;)
Also at the sleepover, this is during our discussion time.
This is part of the Fusion team in Senec. They're a happy crew!
This is Dominika, a girl that I hope to share the Lord with this semester. She is so sweet, but has been through a lot of hurt and loss and living in a broken home.
And of course, a lovely selfie of the damage. ;)
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